The information and documents below will provide you with guidance relating to fuel measurement and sampling (FMS), and how to meet eligibility requirements under the Renewables Obligation (RO) as the operator of a fuelled generating station.
What is FMS?
Undertaking FMS procedures on a monthly basis is a requirement for many fuelled stations in order to determine both the number of renewable certificates to be issued and also relevant Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) band to apply. FMS procedures are agreed with Ofgem during the accreditation process for a generating station and fuelled stations cannot be accredited until the relevant FMS documentation has been submitted to and agreed with Ofgem. For an overview of FMS in the context of the role it plays for fuelled generating stations within the schemes which Ofgem administers, please consult our 'Applicant Guidance Note: Fuel Measurement and Sampling Explained' below. For further information on FMS procedures please consult the relevant guidance documents also found below.
Sustainability
Fuelled generating stations may be required to report on the sustainability characteristics of the fuel used. To ensure compliance in this area, please review the ‘Fuelled Stations and Sustainability: RO Sustainability’ page (a link can be found on the left hand side menu) as this may impact on certificate issue. This page includes further information, guidance documents and links to the carbon calculators.
FMS Questionnaires, Templates and Declaration
Depending on the technology and fuels utilised at your generating station one of the following documents will need to be completed and submitted alongside an application for the Renewables Obligation (RO).
- Standard RO FMS questionnaire: This FMS document should be applicable to most solid, liquid and gaseous biomass stations which do not fall under one of the categories below.
- FMS questionnaire gasification & pyrolysis: This document should be completed by gasification and pyrolysis generating stations only.
- Anaerobic digestion (AD) feedstocks template: This document should be completed by AD stations where generation occurs only from the biogas produced and no sewage is added to the digester.
- Confirmation of 100 per cent uncontaminated biomass: This should be completed by stations who will only be using 100% biomass by energy content fuel(s) which fall within the same ROC band, and where no fossil fuel will result in the generation of electricity.
- FMS questionnaire - Carbon-14: This document should be completed by generating stations wishing to use carbon-14 techniques to determine the biogenic content of their fuel(s). Please note, as this questionnaire only relates to determining biogenic content it must be submitted alongside another (applicable) FMS document from this list.
- BIOMA FMS Questionnaire: This document should be completed by generating stations looking to use the BIOMA method to determine the biogenic content of their fuel(s). As with the Carbon 14 FMS questionnaire, this questionnaire only relates to determining the biogenic content and should therefore be submitted alongside another (applicable) FMS document from this list.
- Climate Change Levy (CCL) Only Stations: Please go to the Climate Change Levy - Renewables Exemption page where you will be able to view and download a copy the relevant FMS questionnaire documents.
All these can be downloaded from the links given in the table below. If you are unsure as to which document to submit, please call the team on 0207 901 7310.
Queries and Stakeholder Engagement
If you have a specific query regarding fuel measurement and sampling, please contact either:
Pharoah Le Feuvre: Pharoah.Lefeuvre@ofgem.gov.uk or 0207 901 7034
Matthew Pearson: Matthew.Pearson@ofgem.gov.uk or 0207 901 7156
If you wish to be added to our stakeholder mailing list, please email FuellingandSustainability@ofgem.gov.uk. Please include your name, email address, company (if relevant) and reason for interest (e.g. operator of a generating station, fuel supplier, non-governmental organisation, renewable energy interest group etc).